Excavating-machine.



No. 824,531. PATENTBD JUNE 26, 1906. A. J. DUGELLlER.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. a, 1904. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

PATENTED JUNE 26', 190e.

, A. J. DUGHLLIER.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV'. 8, 1904.-

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATEN'I'ED 26, 1906.

A. J. DUGELLIER. EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WHA/5555 l No. 824,531. PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906. A. J. DUGBLLIER.EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' ATTURNEYS yPATEN'I'ED JUNE 26, 1906.

A. J. DUCELLIER. EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. B, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ATTURNEYS PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

A. J. DUCELLIER.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. s. 1904.

'7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

il ...r l l..

ATTURNEYS PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

A. J. DUCELLIER.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

Fig. M.

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INVENTR WlTNESSES ATTRNEYS Pno'm-Llmoampnsns. wmwmol n c.

. UNITED STATES PATENT orrion ExcAvATlNe-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 190e.

Application filed November 8, 1904. Serial No. 231,917.

To all whom it muy concern.'

Be it known that I, ALFRED JULIEN DU- oELLrER,\a citizen of the Republicof France, and a resident of Paris, France, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Excavating-Machines, which improvement is fullyset forth in the following specification. j

This invention relates to excavating-machines for use in formingearthworks, digging trenches, and cuttings of any depth andcross-section, removing embankments and mounds, and for other similarpurposes.

One of the objects of theinvention is to provide a mounting for theexcavating mechansim proper, whereby the latter may be advanced withfacility as the work progresses,

and which is also capable of adjustment in a transverse direction, suchadjustments being readily effected by the manipulation of certaininstrumentalities.embodied in such mounting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a particularlyconvenient and efficacious arrangement of parts by which the excavatedmaterial is conveyed directly from the excavating mechanism to the carsby which it is carried to the point of dumping.

The invention also purposes to provide an excavating mechanism in whichthe excavating tools or scrapers are disposed and operated in such amanner as to enlarge the capacity of the machine and facilitate theremoval of the excavated material by the conveying apparatus justmentioned.

With these and other advantages in view the invention consists in anexcavating apparatus of which the novel features and combinations ofparts will be hereinafter described, and finally pointed out in theclaims.

An excavating-machine constructed according to this invention isillustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l shows the whole machine,includ ing the conveyer for removingthe material excavated. Fig. 2 is a lan view of the same. Fig. 3 is aplan of the sfiding or rolling frame.

Fig. 4 shows another construction of the base. Fig. 5 shows, on a largerscale, details of the tool-supporting arrangements. Fig. 5a is a sideelevation of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view in plan intended toshow the method of working when this machine 'is used. Fig. 7 is an endview of the conveyer and of the frame supporting it. Fig. 8 is adiagrammatic view in plan of the apparatus when used for wideningtrenches or cuttings. Figs. 9, l0, and 11 are details, on

a larger scale, of the conveyer-band. Fig. l2

shows the arrangement for causing the machine to move laterally.

The base a is constituted by two or four `longitudinal girders firmlysecured together` and having ample bearing-surface for resting on theground. To the longitudinal girders are secured onthe right and on theleft hand side two cross-girders X X and X X", Fig. 2, arranged outsideand toward the rear of the machine-frame and forming at the endsplatforms, the lower portions of which rest on the ground and areadapted to receive ballast for steadying the machine in USG.

The frame fx, `which carries the main driving shaft or mast b, isarranged so that it can be raised a few centimeters above the base a-forexample, by means of four vertical hydraulic or other lifting jacks j'Fig. 3.

When the frame has ybeen thus raised, a hori- Zontal jackg, Fig.3,acting against a stay or part of the base a, is operated to cause theadvance to a certainl extent#say 0.20 centimeters-of the said frame,together with the apparatus upon it. During this advance movement theheads of the pistons of the lifting-jacks f are adapted to slide or rollupon the horizontal upper faces of the longitudinal girders of the basea, which thus form a sliding track. This advance having been effected,the jacks are released and the frame fx lowered to rest on the ground,on which it bears with as large a surface as possible. During theadvance of the frame an angleiron i, Fig. l, levels,v if necessary, thepart of tilie ground along which the advance takes ace. p When thevertical jacks have ceased to act and the frame fx is resting on theground, a horizontal jack y', Fig. 3, carried on the frame, is caused topress on a stay of the base a and when operated acts on the latter andon the whole system of which it is a part. The result of this operationis that the whole base part constituting the sliding track advances tothe same extent as the framef has previously advanced.

The operations of raising and lowering the frame and the advance of theframe and of the sliding track are effected successively; but each ofthese operations is effected quickly and the whole takes a veryshorttime. The

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working of the other parts of the apparatus,

must not, however, be interrupted during the execution of the saidoperations. Consequently a firm and solid Working connection between theframe f X and the base must no t cease to exist7 and to this end theframe is made to engage under the flanges of the girders of the base, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. When, finally, the frame is restingon the sliding track after the advance of the base, the two arts areconnected together by means of ydraulic or other jacks k, Fig. 3, actingupward and bearing against the flanges of the sliding track.

The frame carries the swiveled mast or shaft b, Fig. 1, which carriesthe whole upper system. rllhis mast is hollowed out in the center inorder to give passage for electric or other conductors, pipes, and thelike required for the motors, compressors, lighting arrangements, &c.,of the whole machine. To the lower portion of the shaft or mast b issecured a toothed wheel I, Fig.` 1. l

The pivoted part or jib, Fig. 1, of the machine comprises a part c,forming a platform, Figs. 1 and 2, on which `are arranged the Winchesand their motors, and two metallic upwardly-inclined girders m, Figs. 1and 2, connected to each other and to said platform c and formingrolling `tracks for the parts carrying the excavating-tools, Figs. 1, 2,and 5.

There are two excavating or cutting vtools working simultaneously in'opposite directions, the tool n, Fig. '1, yworking upwardand the-toolnzdownward, so that (1) the `strain on the 'ends of the girders isneutralized, and (2)` provision is made for `the occurrence of largestones or blocks in the earth Abeing-excavated. In the latter case ifthe `machine had only a singletool on said tool meeting a stone or blockof such size or in such position that it'could .not move it nor couldpass over the block in order to continue Iits travel it wouldbenecessary Eto `leave lthe layer of earth being operated uponunfinished and to start anew cut. If the said stone or block could notbe broken up bythe time the'tool returned to its level and becameagainobstructed, the same thing would ha en again, and the work of themachine would be interfered with.v When, however, such a case happenswith a machine constructed according to this invention, with two toolsWorking in opposite directions, the tool first meeting the stone orblock that it cannot move' is revented from moving farther, and thereore stops, as permitted by the driving mechanism, until the returnmovement is commenced, and the other tool, continuing its travel up tothe stone or block tries in its turn to dislodge it and cause it to fallwithin the space (about 0.80 meters) which exists between the outermostoints of the girders and the slope or bank ormed by the passageof thetools. The

machine can thus effect three successive cuts of about 0.20l meters-thatis to say, 0.60

metersbefore being stopped altogether by the stone or block, owing tothe continued advance of the machine and contact of the stone or blockwith the girders of the machine, and during the time occupied in makingthese three cuts the block can be blasted by means of explosives.

The tool or scraper n2 is mounted by means of rollers on flangesextending inwardly from the girders m, while the tool or scra er n issimilarly mounted on outwardlyisposed flanges of said girders, as shownin Figs. 5 and 5a. v The ro 1ers of the two scra ers are connected bychains or other suitab e transmission elements with the Winches or otheroperating mechanism mounted on the platform c, and said operatingmechanism is so arranged as to drive the chains of said two Scrapers inop osite directions. The use of two tools enab es also the s eedrequired for the same out ut to be re uced by half, so that a s eed of0.25 meters per second may be assumed as the minimum speed of each tool.

When work is commenced, the tools arein the positions shown in Fig.. 1.If they do not meet any large stones or blocks, they travel toward eachother and meet at the point in the center of the distance separatingthem, fand it is from that point that they return. When the tools havereturned, the jib is moved to the right or to the left hand side to theextent corresponding to the width of the tools, the lateral movementbeing effected by means of a worm lo, Fig. 1, engaging with the wheel i.This movement `having been completed, the tools recommence a workingmovement, and so on.

The bucket'conveyer is mounted -on ythe horizontal portion el of thejib, and the material excavated is lifted bythe buckets of the saidconveyer and delivered onto a chute p, Fig. 1, by'whichitiis guided ontothe band conveyer g. The axis of -lthe bucket conveyer is arranged onfaline bisecting the angle cc, Fig. 1, and the whole of the bucketconveyer can'be moved axially'. The outermost edge of the travelingbuckets passes tangentiallyto the-rounded off summit of the angle ocwhen the tool n has passed that angle during itsforward movemenththat isto say, whenl the tool frt/ is working on the slope of theexcavation-and the relative positions are preserved during all the timerequired for theforward movement of the toolin question. To enable thetool n to return to its starting position, the whole conveyer is liftedaxially at the moment required, and thus the tool n is enabled to takeup its starting position again. The two positions are indicated by thelines 1 and 2l, respectively, in Fig. 1. The re uired movement isyobtained by means of-a hydraulic or other jack, the ends ofthe frame lofthe conveyer being held, in

order that the movement in question may take place, by means of shoesand slides in IOO IIC)

IIS

the framing supporting them. The arrangement of the buckets is awell-known one but they must be arranged so that their edges or lipsproject beyond the chain.

The band conveyer g, which receives the material excavated, brings it tothe chute r, Figs. 1 and 7, and discharges it alternately to the leftand to the right by the folding movements of its upper portion s, Fig.7. The length of the conveyer g is fixed, Fig. '6, by the distancerequired to deal with five trucks or wagons, each about 3.50 meters inlength, running on railway-tracks and which are placed successivelylunderneath the chute at the delivery end.

ln practice five trucks or wagons are arranged at each side, and thechute r discharges alternately into a truck or wagon on the right and onthe left hand side, the trucks or wagons being fed along as requireduntil all have been filled.

The conveyer-band for carrying the material excavated may be ofrnetaland of the construction shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11- that is to say,constituted by two chains 1 6, arranged about one meter apart and formedby a double series of links 17, the chains being connected together bybolts 18, on which are mounted plates 19, of, say, cast steel. Each pairof consecutive plates 19 is hinged about the same bolt 18. Eachalternate plate 19 is provided with two spindles 20, Fig. 10, on whichare mounted wheels 21, traveling on a flange of a channel-iron 22, so asto reduce to a minimum the wear of the parts in contact and do away withexcessive oscillation and vibration at the higher speeds. A stretchingdevice 28, Fig. 9, acts on the chains 17 at one end of the conveyer, soas to make up for any sagging or looseness that might occur be-` tweenthe movable parts. 4The conveyer g is operated at the end g. The chutesr may be raised or lowered to a certain extent, according to the natureof the material being excavated.

In order to reduce the speed of falling of the material, baffle-platesmay be arranged and are preferably suspended at their upper ends onspindles cc, Fig. 7, so as to be ca able of oscillation in order toallow any arge blocks or stones to pass.

Besides the construction described the arrangement of the frame on thesliding track of the base may be as follows: The sliding track isconstructed in the same way as previously described but the frame andthe support for the back end of the conveyer are adapted for engagementwith the track and fit it so that they can slide on it in the same wayas the slide-rest of a lathe slides on its bed. The parts in questionmay also be made to engage with the top flanges of the girders of thebase, so as to maintain constant connection between those parts. The

frame and the support are arranged so as to rest on the ground at anydesired moment, the frame, by means of its feet a, arranged outside thesliding track and made as wide as will be rendered possible by thelength of the horizontal portion of the girders d and by means of feetarranged at 0,', Fig. 4, and the support by the feet am, Figs. 1 and 7,the

front and back feet shown being done awaywith. The surface of these feetas used on a sliding track 2.50 meters wide is suHicient for supportingthe weight of the apparatus on any ground without its being necessary toconsolidate the ground by ramming it or in other ways preparing it. Itmust be pointed out4 here that the distance between the two girders onone and the same side of the sliding track can be reduced to such anextent as to form a closed hollow beam, these girders being connected bymetal sheets af* and a5, Fig. 4, one of which, a4, serves besides as asurface bearing on the ground for the purpose of increasing the width ofthe central bearing-surface when the frame rests on the ground, whilethe base a is being caused to advance.

The feet a. and a are secured to the frame in such manner that thelatter can be raised by the action of the jacks b, Fig. 4, resting onthese feet. In that case it is no longer the front of the frame thateffects the leveling of the surface along which the advance takes place,as at fi, Fig. 1. Instead it is the front of the base a that is providedwith the angle-iron i. The advance then takes place as follows: By theaction of the jacks the frame and the support are lifted o their feet,owing to the engagement with the upper flanges of the girders of thebase a and with the frame and the support. The base a, which no longerrests lon the ground and does not offer any resistance to an advance, isalso lighter. At that moment the weight of the frame and that of theparts it is carrying in addition to the weight of the base is taken bythe feet. In this position the frame offers, therefore, agreat'resistance to a longitudinal movement. A horizontal jack acts thenon a cross-bar of the base and pushes the latter forward. Theangle-piece i has been placed in the position desired in order to levelthe surface along which the advance takes place. The base may then beadvanced as far as the position of the bottom tool n at its startingposition will allow. Several successive advances ofthe frame of 0.20 to0.25 meters can be effected before it becomes necessary to move thebase. After the base a has been advanced the jacks cease to act, all theweight of the frame bears on the base, and the frame slides on the baseunder the influence of a jack resting on the said base or by means of aspur-wheel driven by worm-gearing on the frame, which engages with arack on the base. In case of this gearing being used it may also be em-IIO platforms 14 and 15 remains on the ground,

thus preventing any lowering of the frame secured to the base. This iseifected either by means of a locking arrangement operated automaticallyor by hand or by hydraulic means-that is to say, by introducing water,which occupies the empty space left between the bottom of a cylindersecured, to each of the frames and a piston secured to each of theplatforms. Owing to its incompressibility, water insures stability ofthe whole of the apparatus during the raising of the base, and thusenables the platforms to play the same part as when the track rests onthe ground.

The whole machine can be operated by steam-engines g but it ispreferable to use electric motors, current being supplied from agenerating-station installed in proximity to the place of working of themachine.

The material excavated is removed by means of trucks or wagons movableon two parallel tracks or lines laid from the point where the materialis excavated to the beginning of the dumping-ground. One of the tracksserves for the loaded trucks and the other for the return of the' emptytrucks. Near the apparatus there are two crossoverlines y, Fig. 6, bywhich the trucks can pass from one line to the other.

At present trains of twenty or more trucks are formed and drawn by asteam-locomotive; but in certain cases it will be preferable to adoptthe following arrangement: Of each five trucks one would be amotor-truck rendered self-propelling by the addition of an electricmotor, but otherwise capable of being loaded in the same way as theothers. These five trucks are placed at one side of the band conveyer,the length of which is such that they can all be arranged beyond thechute ready for being loaded. A similar set of five trucks is placed inthe same way on the other track, Fig. 6. As soon as the first fivewagons on either side have been iilled, being drawn forward in orderunder the chute r, which discharges alternately to either side, they aretaken away to be emptied, and a new series of empty wagons are placed inposition, and so on. As many groups of five trucks as necessary can beused, according to the distance to which the material has to betransported. This method of working may be employed for depositingmaterial to form embankments and earthworks, as it en ables thedischarge to be divided longitudinally into several sections, the loadedtrucks being supplied from one line or track and discharged from thesides, and the empty ones removed via the other track. In the case of anembankment made by successive deposits of material this process may alsobe employed; but it will ythen be advisable to combine several groups offive trucks into longer trains, so that the navvies and workmen shallhave time to trim the material and otherwise prepare forthe next trainof material in the intervals between trains. port of excavated materialis thus effected in trains of twenty to thirty trucks each, it may notalways be necessary to install two contine uous lines or tracks. In suchcase the lines z and 3, Fig. 6, would be left along the length on whichthe excavating-machine is working. Then these two lines join and form asingle line until the point where the material is being discharged toform an embankment or the like. A locomotive brings its train of emptywagons on the line 3 and leaves them there. It then passes to the line.e and backs onto a train of loaded wagons on that line and then takesthis train to the dischargepoint. Meanwhile the empty wagons have beentaken alternately to the loading position on the line 3 and the line zby horses or by small locomotives of just sufficient power to draw fourwagons and loaded up. One of these small locomotives is preferably usedfor each track and is kept at the place occupied by the fifth wagon,Fig. 6. The full wagons from each loading position are collected intotrains on the line z.

A large proportion of the stones and blocks that occur in certaingrounds can be moved or uprooted by one or the other of the tools.Nevertheless, as an additional precaution, as soon as the presence of astone or block has been ascertained, it is advisable to undermine it andblastit by means of explosives. Furthermore, if the proportion of suchblocks occurring on certain grounds should make it necessary a crane isplaced at the top of the bucket-conveyer frame 4, Fig. l, which cranehas its `axis in the continuation of the axis of the pivot t and whichwill lift blocks of a volume of 03m.600 to O3m.700 and lower them intothe first wagon.

The arrangement of the dierent parts of the apparatus and the operationsdescribed refer to the working of the apparatus when making cuttings ortrenches not exceeding ten meters in depth and seven meters in widthwith a slope of forty-live degrees.

The dimensions of the machine may be increased or reduced according asthe final dimensions of the cutting or trench are larger or less thanthe above figures. When the iinal depth of the cutting or trench `ismore than fifteen meters, it is done in stages-for in- When the trans-IOO IKO

stance, for a depth of twenty meters in two stages of ten meters each.In order to change from forward excavating to widening or sideexcavating, the machine is arranged as follows: It is assumed that thewidening is on the right-hand side and that the apparatus has arrived atthe end of the work that it can execute by advancing. The machinel ismoved on two girders 5, Fig. 12, which are parallel to each other andconnected by transverse bars. These girders are placed in the ground, sothat the tops of the said girders do not project beyond the surface ofthe ground which has been specially leveled to receive the machine. Assoon as the transverse axis of the sliding track of the base is parallelto the longitudinal axis of the xed girders the machine stops, theconveyer is lifted from its supports by means of cranefittings arrangedon the tops of the metal girders m and placed in a parallel directionoutside the base. The machine can then be moved laterally vby raising itand causing it to bear by means of vertical jacks 6, Fig. 12, on therollers 7, which then rest and roll on the transverse fixed girders 5.This lateral movement having been obtained, the jacks 6 cease to act,the apparatus rests on the ground, the frame is placed at the back endof the sliding track of the base, the conveyer is raised in accordancewith the new position of the frame and of the machine relatively to theline z, Fig. 6, and the supports replaced. The apparatus is then readyto perform widening work of about seven meters,` as shown at 8 in Fig.6.

Fig. 4 shows a modified construction of the sliding track of a machinecutting by advance excavation a trench 11 sixty meters wide. In thatcase the distance between the girders of the sliding track, as well asthe length of the platform c, could be increased according to therequirements. When the machine works by widening excavation and whensaid widening is of sufficient size to necessitate several journeys ofthe machine, the necessity for moving the transport-track can be avoidedby arranging the support u on a track arranged between the apparatus andthe loading-track, Fig. 8. In that case the chute r being fixed to thesupport the conveyer can assume any position between the points 11, 12,and 13, according to the progressive moving away of the apparatusfromthe service-tracks. The support will be caused to follow the movement ofthe machine by the action of a motor which will communicate to it thenecessary movement. This arrangement can also be used for levelingfortifications and earthworks which have been made by the use ofmaterial excavated from the trenches of the same fortifications. Themachine in such a case deposits the material excavated in the trencheswithout the intermediary of service tracks or wagons. A sliding tracksimilar to that of the machine and on which is placed the support of theconveyer enables the same result to be obtained. When the slope of thetrench or the earthworks is curved, the machine follows its curvature,the straight girders at the ends of the sliding track of the base beingreplaced along the necessary length by curved ones.

In order to generalize the use of the machine, itis built so as toenable it to be transformed for the purpose of making cuttings ofdifferent widths-for instance, cuttings for narrow-gage (one meter)railways-and then to `enable the same machine when certain parts havebeen added to it to execute cuttings for ordinary-gage railway withsingle track or with double track. For large works suitable machines canbe constructed in accordance with lthe local or special conditions ofsuch work.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In an excavating apparatus, the combination ofparallel girders forming a base or track, a superposed frame bearing onsaid girders, excavating mechanism carried by said frame, means forraising said frame from said base, means for advancing the samerelatively to said base, and means for likewise advancing said baseafter the seating of said frame.

2. In an excavating apparatus, a frame, a mast or shaft mounted thereon,a platform supported on said mast, a tool-carrying jib carried by saidplatform, mechanism on said platform for operating the tools on saidjib, a bucket elevator carried by said jib adjacent said platform, and aconveyer supported at one end on said mast adjacent said elevator.

3. In an excavating apparatus, a frame, means for supporting the same,an upright mast swiveled on said frame, means for rotating said mast, aplatform carried by said mast, a tool-carrying jib mounted on saidplatform, a bucket elevator carried by said IOO jib adjacent saidplatform, and a conveyer supported on said mast and so disposed as toreceive excavated material from said elevator.

4. The combination, with a base or track, of a frame, an excavatingmechanism carried thereby and embodying an upright mast, ahorizontally-disposed conveyer supported at one end on the upper end ofsaid mast, and a support movable on said base or track at the rear ofsaid frame and upon which the opposite end of said conveyer is mounted.

5. The combination, with the excavating mechanism, of a track forguiding the same, a support or standard mounted on said track andmovable thereon, a conveyer extending between said excavating mechanismand said IZO standard, and means-carried by the latter for deflectingthe excavated material .toV either side of the same.

6. The combination, with a jib embodying parallel girders, of flangescarried by said girders, rollersvmovableon said flanges, a scrapercarried by said rollers, a chain connected to said-scraper, and meansfor driving said chain.

7. In an excavating apparatus, a jib constituted by parallel girdershaving-inwardly and outwardly extending longitudinally-disposed flanges,a scraper guided on the inner flanges, a similar scraper guided on thekouter flanges, and means for driving said scrapers.

8. In an excavating apparatus, the combi. nation, with anupwardly-inclined jib, of a longitudinally-disposed track carriedthereby at its under portion, a scraper mounted =on said track at eitherend thereof, and means for driving said scrapers toward each other.

9. In an excavating apparatus, the combination of anupwardly-inclinedjib having. a

horizontal base ortion, tools movable longi-l tudinally ofsai jib at thelower side thereof, means for operating said tools, a bucket elevatorlthe frame of which is carried by said jib and which extends through thesame, and means for raising and lowering saidbucket elevator in itsframe.

10. In an excavating apparatus, the cornbination .of parallel girderscountersunk in the earth, girders superposed on said firstnamed girdersand constituting a base, a frame carried by said u er girders,excavating mechanism carrie Iby said frame, and means for shifting theupper girders constituting the base transversely of said countersunkgirders.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED JULIEN DUCELLIER.

Witnesses:

EMILE LEDRET, JOHN BAKER.

